Steering mechanism for creeper tractors



March 15,1927; I 1,620,668

' L. P. LIPPS STEERING MECHANISM FOR CREEPER TRACTORS Filed March 5,1926 2 Sheets-Sheet v1 S 2/ Q2 [5/ z 52 if 7 a a g 7 K 1 C 0 INYENTOR:

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INVENTOR! Louls P LIFPS Afiorne y Patented Mar. 15, 1927,

UNITED STATES .P ATEl-NT OFFICE.- J

LOUIS IP. LIPPS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE BROWN HOIS'IINGMACHIN- ERY COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION.

STEERING MECHANISM FOR CREEPER TBLAGTORS.

Application filed March 5, 1926 Serial No. 92,469.

The invention relates to means for steering creeper tractors where n thetransmission mechamsms, by the lntroduction of extra parts and the novelcorrelation of suchparts, are utilized to efi'ect the steering;

Since there is much competition in the tractor industry, manufacturersare con fronted with the problem of obtaining as many of the eightpossible traveling and steering directions for their tractors as ispossible without burdening or complicating the trasmission mechanismwith a multiplicity of parts. To this end, simplicityin design and acorresponding reduction in production costs are. important. Obviously,the more clutches and brakes that are introduced into a transmsisionsystem for steering purposes, the more controlling lever systems arerequired, which, of'course, adds to the cost of the tractors andcomplicates the operators manipulations.

It is the object of the present invention to provide for as man'y'of thepossible driving directions as the practical use of this type of tractorwill be subjected to, and, to simplify the transmission -mechanisms nowin use, which, latter as far as I know vinvariably employ specialreversing mechanisms in the transmission, systems.

Without reversing gears for instance modern'transmission mechanisms canonly negotiate three driving (or steering) directions, that is to say,straight ahead; to the right, pivoting on the right creeper track; and,to the right pivoting between the creeper tracks, at the center of thetractor. My invention, even when operated with out special reversinggears, contemplates two additional driving directions with the additionof but one extra clutch. The additional directions thereby obtained areto,

reversing gears introduced between the invention Proper and the primemover or source 0 power; FiguresIII to X,inclusive, are diagrams showingthe eight poscreeper tractors when the same are equi sible steering anddriving directions fog e with'the requisite clutches, gears, etc.; ig-

ure XI is a side elevation of a creeper tractor surmounted with arevolvable super-' structure, in fragmentary outline, upon which is'shown the prime mover and the prime elements of the main invention, and

Figure XII is a sectional view on the line in Figure XI.

For the purpose of disclosing the invention I show the correlatedelements associated with. a creeper tractor-T. v These embody a frame Fand creeper-tracks t and t As shown, aligned shafts 1 and 2 are mountedon and transversely of the frame F, near the rear end thereof in,respectively, bearings 1 and 1 and, 2- and. 2 The shafts 1 and 2 projectbeyond the sides of the tractor frame F far enough to accommodate spurpinions '3 and 4 that mesh with, respectively internal spur-gears 13 and4* which are adapted to propel the creeper tracks, and, inwardly, to themedian line of the tractor. The inner ends of the shafts 1 and 2 areprovided with double faced jaw-clutches 5 and 6 which are slidably keyedto the same. Upright bevel gears '7 and 8 are freely mounted,respectively, on the shafts 1 and 2 near their inner ends in closejuxtaposition to the jaw clutch 5.

in one case and to jaw clutch 6 in the other I case. These bevel gearsare provided with clutch engaging projections C, C on their inner faces.

At'the forward end of the-tractor, and, p

shaft carries a bevel gear G that is keyed to the same and meshes withthe bevel gears 7 and 8 on the inner ends of the aligned shafts 1 and 2.Clutch levers for operating the jaw-clutches 5 and 6 are'indicated at 9and 10, respectively.

It will be evident, upon referring to Fig. ure I, that when the primemoving shaft S is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow a thegear G will rotate in the same direction, the gear 7 will rotate'in thedirection indicated by arrow 6 and the gear 8 will'rotate in thedirection indicated by the arrow 0. Gears 7 and 8 being loosely mountedon their respective-shafts will, of course, rotate whenever the shaft Sis actuated by the motor M, and without moving those shafts. With theabove described novel correlation of gears, clutches and aligned shafts,five of the eight possible driving and steering directions can bemaneuvered. The directions, and gear, clutches and shaft combinationsfor effecting those steering and driving directions are as follows:

(1) To drive ahead (see Fig. III) Throw clutch 5 into engagement withbevel gear? and clutch 6 into engagement with clutch 5. With themechanisms thus engaged, the gear 7 and the shaft 2 are locked to theshaft 1. The shafts now rotate in the direction indicated by arrows cland e.

(2) To drive straight to the rear (see Fig. 1V) Throw clutch 6 intoengagement with bevel gear 8 and clutch 5 into engagement with clutch 6.These engagements lock gear 8 and shaft 1 to shaft 2 and the shafts willrotate in the direction indicated by arrows f and g.

(3) To drive to the right (ahead) pivoting about track 25 or the rightcreeper track (see Fig. VIII): Throw clutch 5 into engagement with gear7 and keep clutch 6 in the neutral position. This arrangement locks gear7 to shaft 1 and the latter is rotated in the direction indicated by thearrow (1?. The shaft 2 remains idle.

(4) To drive to the left (backing) pivoting about track t or the leftcreeper track (see Fig. X) Throw clutch 6 into engagement with the bevelgear 8 and keep clutch.

5 in the neutralposition. This arrangement locks gear 8 o shaft 2 andthe latter is rotated in the irection indicated by the arrow g. Theshaft 1 remains idle.

(5) To drive to the right (ahead) or to the left (backing) pivotingabout the center of the tractor (see-Fig. V) Throw the clutches intoengagement with their respective or adjacent gears. This combinationrotates the shafts l and 2 in reverse relation as indicated by thearrows d and g.

Amplifications of the driving and steering directions may be had byeither employing a reversing engine for actuating the transmissionmechanism orintroducing special reversing mechanism R (see Figure II)between the gear G and thesource ofpower M. In the special arrangementfor this p'urpose shown, the motor shaft S has a bevel gear G providedwith clutch engaging pro]ectings or lugs p, keyed to its outer end-Meshing with the bevel-gear G and loosely mounted on a stub-shaft S thatis positioned at right an les to the motor shaft S is a bevel gear thatalso meshes with a bevel gear Gr that is loosely mounted on a shaft Sthat is aligned with the motor-shaft S The gear Gr is provided withclutch engaging lugs p The shaft S extends from the end of the shaft Sto a distance to serve in place of the shaft S to engage and support thebevel gear G of the bevel-gear nest above referred to. A double facedjaw-clutch J is I located at the end of the shaft S intermediately ofthe bevel gears G and G and is slidably keyed to said shaft. A lever Lcondriving directions obtained by the arrangement of the gears shown inFigure I can be had. It is also evident that when the clutch J is madeto engage the gear G such engagement will reverse the direction ofrotation of the shaft S? (see arrow (1, Figure II) and, consequently,all the additional steering and driving directions which are outlined inFigures III, IV, V, VII and X may be obtained. It will be noted that thesteering directions shown in Figures VI, VIII and IX may also benegotiated with said reversing gear, and, that when said reversing gearis thus introduced and used the forward and backward driving is alsoobtainable. By the correlation of gears and clutches shown in Figure IIa very flexible steering mechanism is evolved because five steeringdirections can be had with the shaft S rotating in a given direction andalike number can be had by reversing the direction of rotation of thatshaft, and in all, the eight steering directions are. made possible.Obviously the reversing gearshown at R can be dispensed with if areversing engine is employed.

Since the advent of the creeper tractors,

'whose chief utility was that of replacing draft horses, manufacturersof locomotive cranes and steam-shovels have been quick to see theadvantages these had over the traction wheel type as a means forpropelling huge pieces of machinery. Often the condition of thegroundover which the cranes and shovels of the four-wheel type had to, travelwas such that locomotion was impossible, and insome instances theseunits would become mired. The adoption of creeper belts solved theirtraction problem, but as yet nothing has been evolved that nearlyapproaches an ideal means for steering creeper tractors from revolvablesuperstructures.

In the present state of the art most makes of cranes and shovels locatethe brake and clutch mechanisms for steering on the tractor frame. Thislocation is unsatisfactory, be

system of remote control, which comprises a multiplicity of levers,links and other gearing, is required.

-As will appear herein myinvention not only makes possible the locationof the steering gear upon the up or works and in immediate accessibilityto eiiperator but reduces the number of bevel gears and other partstruck CT. As cranes of this type are fa-v miliar to those versed in theart no attention will be given here to the details and generalconstruction of the same. In the arrangement to be described, concentricshafts S and S are located at the center of rota tion of thesuperstructure and are supported by bearings B and B which are astenedrespectively to the superstructure ST and the tractor-frame CT. Theseshafts extend below the tractor frame far enough to engage bevel pinions11 and 12 that inesh respectively with bevel gears 13 and 14 ontransmission cross-shafts S and S". The upper end of the innerconcentric shaft S extends through a bearing B of an engine-housingseparator ES supported by the side-frame F and F The otherconcentricshaft S which is hollow and throu h which the shaft S passes,extends upwarfly from the hearing B to a point about midway of thathear-- ing and the bearing B Bevel gears 7 and- 8 corresponding,respectively, to gears 7 and 8 in Figure I are loosely mounted, .resectively, on and near the upper ends of tile shaftsS and S". Meshingwith these bevel gears and corres onding with bevel ear G is a bevelgear that is supported %y the horizontal driving shaft S pertaining tothe power mechanism-customarily carried on the superstructure. Allthegears above referred to, excepting gears 7 and 8 are keyed to theirrespective shafts. Clutch 5 .is slidably mounted on the shaft S between9 the gear 7 and the upper end of the shaft Clutch 6 is slidab mountednnandat the upper end of the ollow shaft S, between the bevel gear 8 andthe clutch 5. Clutch yoke-levers 1 and 1 engage, I'GSPGC', tively, theclutches 5 and 6', they are keyed respectively to the pivot-shafts P.and P which, respectively carry the hand leversI-I,

and H By operating the clutches 5 and 6 in the same manner as in thecombinations that include clutches 5 and 6 (Fi re I ,the same drivindirections (F igures II, I V, VII, and I? described for thecreeper-tractor proper. Of course, by introducing a reversing mech-'anism between the gear G and the source of power or by employing areversin -engine, a reversal of the above driving irections can be hadwhich would cover and include the directions illustrated by Figures VIVIII and IX.

I Iaving thus pointed out and described the novel features of myinvention,- what I wish to protect by Letters Patent is:

In a locomotive crane of the creeper tractor type, having a revolvablesuperstructure and a source of power thereon, the combination of a airof concentrically arranged shafts extending vertically downward fromsaid superstructure through the center o'f rotation of the same to andwithin the tractor can be negotiated as those frame below, apair ofright and left transversely aligned tracks-driving shafts extendinginwardly from the sides of the frame to a point beneath the lower endsof said concentricall arranged shafts, a bevel gear on the inner end ofeach of said trackdriving shafts, bevel pinions on the lower end of saidconcentrically, arranged shafts in mesh, respectively, with the bevelgears on said inner ends of said track-driving shafts, apair ofspaced-apart horizontally disposed bevel gears of the same diameterprovided with clutch-engaging means, freely mounted on the upperportions respectively of. said concentrically arranged shafts, a

power shaft operativel connected with said source of power-extending tosaid interspace between said bevel gears on said upper portions, anupright bevel gear fixedly mounted on the 'free end of said power shaftin mesh with the bevel gears on said upper portions,

double-faced mounted onvsaid upper portions, provided 'withmeans forclutch engagement, one with the other, or with the next adjoining ofsaidhorizontally. disposed bevel gears, when contacting therewith for theurpose, to

gether with means for selective y actuating said clutches into one orthe other of such LOUIS P; LIPPS.

clutch mechan sms slidably' engagements, substantially as shown. an/d

